[Brain MRI-findings in Ph - negative myeloproliferative disorders].

UNLABELLED: Myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) are accompanied by a high proportion of thrombotic complications, which may lead to cerebrovascular disease (CVD).

AIM: To describe MRI-findings in patients with Ph - negative MPD and evaluate any cerebrovascular disease.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We included 104 patients with Ph - negative MPD (age varied between 20 and 58) with clinical correlates of cerebrovascular pathology.

RESULTS

Brain MRI showed post - stroke lesions in 20% of patients (7 hemispheric infarcts due to thrombotic occlusion of one of the large cerebral arteries, 14 - cortical infarcts). 37 patients (36%) had vascular cerebral lesions. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis occurred in 5 patients - in 7% (n=3) of patients with polycythemia vera and 5% (n=2) - in patients with essential thrombocythemia. The incidence of vascular cerebral lesions was associated with higher levels of the following: erythrocyte, platelet count, fibrinogen, and with the decrease in fibrinolytic activity, as well.

CONCLUSION

The pioneering results of the study include the description and analysis of brain MRI-findings in patients with Ph - negative MPD. The underlying mechanisms of cerebrovascular pathology in these patients are associated with certain blood alterations (particularly, hemorheology) which present a major risk factor.